This Week's Top Five Stories in Supply Chain
Will Strait of Hormuz Closure Disrupt Global Oil Supply?
Oil prices are lurching after Israel confirmed a strike on Iranian territory on 13 June, described by officials as a "pre-emptive strike" linked to Iran’s nuclear activities.
Brent crude leaped over 10%, hitting US$73.12 a barrel, the highest since January, while US crude on the NYMEX exchange matches it at US$73.20. These price swings are accompanied by a growing fear around supply chains, particularly if the conflict expands.
Now, the Iranian parliament’s decision to vote for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz marks a turning point. This 50km-wide shipping corridor, sitting between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, is the busiest oil transit chokepoint in the world. Around 20% of global oil passes through this narrow lane daily.
The closure, if implemented, could halt US$1bn worth of oil shipments every day, choking off supply and hitting economies reliant on Middle Eastern crude.
Who is in Gartner's Top 25 Global Supply Chain for 2025?
Schneider Electric has retained its top position in the 21st annual Gartner Top 25 global supply chain, while NVIDIA has risen to second position.
Gartner has confirmed its ranking of the top 25 global supply chains, which highlights those leading supply chain organisations and discusses those underlying trends at the heart of their performance.
Schneider Electric retained its top position in the rankings for the third consecutive year, while NVIDIA improved its position to land second in this year's rankings.
Simon Bailey, VP Analyst with the Gartner Supply Chain practice, says: "This year, leaders are differentiating themselves from the pack by integrating the latest AI, developing autonomous operations and stewarding resources.
Q&A: SAP's Richard Howells on Tariff Technology
As Vice President of Solution Management for ERP, Finance and Digital Supply Chain at SAP, Richard Howells leads the global strategic messaging, market positioning and thought leadership for SAP’s Extended Supply Chain portfolio.
His remit spans ERP, finance, supply chain, manufacturing, asset management and product lifecycle management, where he focuses on integrating operations and logistics to support intelligent, connected and resilient business transformation.
With more than 25 years of experience in supply chain management and manufacturing, Richard has worked across the entire value chain.
Before joining SAP, he served as Vice President of Marketing for Process ERP at Marcam Solutions and led ERP and supply chain implementations at global companies including Nestlé, Colgate Palmolive and Gillette.
At SAP, he also oversees marketing and industry opportunity analysis, helping organisations respond to disruption with sustainable, technology-enabled operations. Here, he delves into the benefits of implementing new technology, like generative AI or scenario planning, to combat tariff disruption.
85% Cut Back: How Consumer Trends Impact Your Supply Chain
Grocery price inflation is no longer just a consumer issue – it is now a direct concern for Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCOs) managing end-to-end operations.
Blue Yonder’s '2025 Global Consumer Sentiment on Grocery Inflation Survey' paints a clear picture: shoppers across major global markets are cutting back, reprioritising spend and scrutinising brands. These shifting behaviours will have a direct impact on sourcing, stock planning, promotional strategies and margin management.
Blue Yonder commissioned the third-party survey in May 2025, collecting responses from more than 6,000 consumers across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), France, Germany, the Middle East, the UK and the US.
The vast majority (85%) of respondents globally say they are worried about the impact of inflation on grocery prices – and this rises to 86% among UK shoppers.
In practical terms, 65% of global consumers say they are buying fewer items across grocery categories. This trend is reflected evenly across regions – 66% in the UK alone. CSCOs should expect reduced unit volumes across categories, which could affect demand planning, supplier contracts and shelf space decisions.
Leonard Lauder’s Legacy: A Pioneer in Beauty Manufacturing
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) was founded in 1946, by Estée Lauder and Joseph H. Lauder. In 1958, their oldest son, Leonard, joined the company at age 25, soon making his own mark on the family business.
During his time at the company, he transformed Estée Lauder into a global brand, elevating it into the leading beauty company it is today.
On 14 June 2025, Leonard died in his home in Manhattan, aged 92, leaving the industry to reflect on his legacy.
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